Container



April 12, 1938. ca. M. KINCADE, JR

CONTAINER Filed April 22, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 iiiii INVENTOR.

BY pd 1; [v-

' %z.'$ ATTORNEYS P 1938. e. M. KINCADE, JR 2,114,052

CONTAINER I Filed April 22, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 r. 33 50 \sz az 15 36135 aw a? 5' I! In I ATTORNEYS April 1938. s. M. KINCADE, JR 2,114,052-

CONTAINER Filed April 22, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet s 65 25 32 919 C9 J9? -+WH. I .'vII|IIHHH- Z a 35 3-5 a INVENTOR.

41's ATTORNEYS Patented Apr-. 12, 1938 comma Gerard M. Kincade,'.lr.,Rochester, N. Y.

Application April 22,1930, Serial No. 75,707

This invention relates to a container or receptacle, and moreparticularly to one of the type sometimes known as a carton, made offiber board, either plain or corrugated, cardboard, chip board, or thelike.

An object of the invention is the provision of an improved container orreceptacle for packing a plurality of cylindrical or approximatelycylindrical objects such as glass jars. tin cans, bottles, and the like.

Another object is the provision of a container so designed that a numberof cylindrical objects may be packed therein in a more eflicient mannerthan in the containers heretofore commonly used.

Still another object is the provision of a container for packingcylindrical objects, so shaped as to save a substantial amount ofmaterial in comparison to prior containers for holding the samequantity'of cylindrical objects.

A further object is the provision of a container I of a shape whichiseasy to handle and which scribed, the novel features being pointed outin the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan of a blank from which a container or receptacle inaccordance with a prefered embodiment of the present invention may bemade;

Fig. 2 is a view of the blank shown in Fig. 1 folded up to form apartially completed container;

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the preferred form of container, withthe closure flaps in closed position; 4 V

Fig. 5 is a plan of the preferred form of container, showing articlespacked therein, with the closure flaps open;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section through the container, illustrating theposition ofthe bottom flaps in closedposition;

Figs. '1 to- 12, inclusive, are views similar to Figs. 1 to 6,respectively, illustrating a modified form of construction, and

Figs. 13 to 18, inclusive, are views similar to Figs. 1 to 6,respectively, illustrating still another modified form of construction.

The same reference numerals throughout the several views indicate thesame parts.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, there, 5

V is illustrated a receptacle or container made'up from a blank ofsuitable sheet material, such as fiberboard (either corrugated or plain)cut and scored to provide panels 2|, 22, 23, 24, 25, 23, and

21, separated from each other by suitable score lines forming hinges,and likewise separated by score lines from the top and bottom closureflaps 32, 33, 35, and 36, there being two sets of such the score linebetween the panel 22 'and the panel 23, to lie flat against the panels23 and 24, while the panels 26 and 21 are similarly folded over, aboutthe score line between the panels 25 and 26. to lie flat against thepanel 25. This brings the extreme edges of the panels 2| and 21 intosubstantially abutting relationship with each other, and they may thenbe secured to each other by any suitable means, such as the adhesivetape 40, preferably on both the inside and outside surfaces of thepanels 2| and 21, or the panels 2| and 21 may be made slightly wider andover-- lapped with each other and stitched to each other by wirestitches or staples 4|, as shown in Figs. 8, 9, and 10, or they may befastened in any other suitable manner. A,

When the edges of the panels 2| and 21 have thus been secured to eachother, a somewhat tubular construction is provided which, when viewed incross-section as in Fig. 3, is of a generally parallelogram shape. Thepanels 23 and 26 are preferably of the same size and form two sides ofthe parallelogram, which may be referred to as the short sides, whilethe panels 22 and 25 are preferably of the same size and form two otherother sides of the parallelogram, which may be referred to as the longsides. The panels 2| and 21, when they make a butt joint, are togetherequal in width to the panel 24, and when they make an overlapped joint,they have a total ef- .fective width equal to that of the panel 24.These cate these corners as readily seen in the drawings.

After the receptacle has been made up in the substantially tubular formshown in Figs. 2 and 3, it may, if desired, be left in thissubstantially flat or collapsed condition during transportation to theuser. The user then erects the receptacle by pulling open the flat orcollapsed parts to the erected position illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, and6.

In this position, the short or end panels 23 and 26, instead of beingarranged at right-angles or perpendicularly to the long or side panels22 and 25, as in the conventional receptacle, are placed at an angle ofsubstantially 120 to the respective adjacent long panels. That is, theinterior angle between the panel 22 and the panel 23 is approximately120, while the interior angle between the panel 25 and the panel 26 islikewise approximately 120, as seen from Figs. 5 and 6. The panel 24 islikewise placed at an interior angle of approximately 120 to each of theadjacent panels 23 and 25, while the panel 2|2'| is likewise placed at120 to each of the adjacent panels 22 and 26. The bottom closure flapsare then folded over and secured in proper position by adhesive tape orthe like, or are glued, stitched, stapled, or otherwise suitablysecured, and these flaps serve to hold the side panels in proper erectedposition. Then the erected receptacle, with the bottom in normal closedposition, is filled with the desired contents.

It is seen that this novel shape of carton is particularly adapted toholding cylindrical objects, such as the objects 45 shown in Fig. 5,which may be tin cans, glass jars, or the like. The cylindrical articlesin one row are offset with respect to the cylindrical articles of thenext row, as shown in the drawings, with the result that the cylindricalarticles nest with each other in the most advantageous manner and occupythe least possible total cubical space. Hence the total cubical capacityof the receptacle is less than that of the conventional rectangularreceptacle for holding the same number of tin cans or other objects, andthe perimeter of the container is substantially less than that of theconventional rectangular receptacle, as is also the width orperpendicular distance between the panels 22 and 25, thus effecting asaving of a substantial amount of the sheet material of which thecontainer is made.

:The dimensions of the receptacle are, of course, designed withreference to the particular articles 45 which are to be packed therein,so

that no waste space will be left in the receptacle and so that it willjust snugly hold the required number of cylindrical articles. Thereceptacle may have sufllcient height so that two or more layers ofcylindrical articles can be packed therein, one on top of the other.

The shapes of the top and bottom closure flaps may be varied to someextent as desired. In the preferred form shown in Figs. 1 to 6,inclus'ive, each of the flaps 32 (one at the top and one at the bottomof the box) has one end formed by edges 41 and 43 which lie at to eachother and to the long outer edge 49. The other end is formed by an edge50 arranged at 60 to the edge 49. When the flap is folded over intonormal closed position, the edge 4! lies along the edge of the panel2l2'|, the edge 43 lies along part of the edge of the panel 26, the edge43 extends substantially along the center line of the receptacle, andthe edge 50 extends along part lower flaps 35 may be of shapes identicalwith each other and with those of the flaps 32, as shown in thedrawings, the respective edges of the flaps 35 lying along correspondingparts on the opposite "side of the center line of the box from the flaps32, and the long edges of the flaps 35 meeting and abutting against thelong edges of the flaps 32. r

The flaps 33 have, at one end, edges 52 at 60 to the score line joiningthe flaps 33 with the panel 23, and at 120 .to the outer edge 53 of theflaps. At the opposite end, the flaps 33 have edges 54 and at 120 toeach other and to the edge 53. When these flaps 33 are folded intonormal closed position at the top or bottom of the box, the edge 52 ofeach flap extends obliquely .from the corner between the panels 22 and23 in a general direction toward the center of the box, as shown inFigs. 4 and 6. The edge 55 lies along the edge of the panel 24, and theedge 54 lies along a part of the edge of the panel 25.

The flaps 36 may have shapes identical with the flaps 33, as shown, andcooperate with the edges of the panels in a similar manner to thatdescribed in connection with the flaps 33.

The flaps 32 and 35 may first be folded down inside and then the flaps33 and 36 folded down over them, if desired, but usually it is preferredfirst to fold the flaps 33 and 36 inside, and then to fold down theflaps 32 and 35 and use them as the outside flaps. The reason for thispreference is that the flaps 32 and 35 abut each other and cover theentire area of the top or bottom of the box, thus making a neater andmore attractive closure than if these larger flaps were position, theymay be held in that position in any suitable manner, such as by a stripof adhesive tape or paper placed along the Joint between the flaps 32and 35, or the flaps 32 and 35 may be glued, stitched, stapled, orotherwise suitably secured to the flaps 33 and 36.

The bottom flaps are identical with the top flaps, and after thereceptacle'has been packed with the desired articles, the top flaps arefolded down and closed and sealed in a manner identical to that in whichthe bottom flaps were closed and. sealed prior to the packing of thearticles in the box. 1

It is to be noted that the entire box, including the side panels and topand bottom closure flaps, may be made from a single piece of sheetmaterial having a length no greater than that necessary for the panels2| to 21 inclusive. In other words, it is pointed out that the extremecorners of the extreme flaps 32 and 36 do not project beyond theterminal lines of the panels 2| and 21, as will' be readily apparentfrom 'Fig. 1. Hence, receptacle blanks may be cut in an extremelyeconomical manner from a long strip of suitable sheet material, having awidth equal to wastage of material, as the carton blanks may be cut froma strip of material in abutting relationship to each other, with nowaste cut out between them, and very little material is cut out inshaping the closure flaps.

It is seen that in the embodiment above described, the cut whichseparates the flaps 32 and of the edge of the panel 23. The upper and 33from each other (that is,.the cut forming the that the edge l 0! theflap 32 will lie along the edge of the panel 23. The same relationshipholds true or the out between flaps 35 and 18. While this arrangement ispreferred, it is not essential, and the cut separating the flaps 32 and331mm each other, as well as the cut separating the flaps 35 and 88 fromeach other, can be placed at a diflerent angle. For example, in themodified embodiment illustrated in Figs. 7 to 12, inclusive, the outbetween the flaps 32a and 33a, forming the edges 50a and 52a 01 theseflaps, is arranged at such an angle that when the container is closed,the edge We of the flap 33a. lies along the, edge of the panel 22a,while the edge 50:; of the Figs. 7 to 12, inclusive may be identicalwith the letter embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, andthe various parts of this second embodiment are indicated in thedrawings by the same reference numerals used for the corresponding partsof the first embodiment, with the addition of the to each numeral.Obviously the stitched joint may be used when the flaps are of the formshown in- Fig. 1, if desired, or a taped joint may be used when theclosure flaps are in the form shown in Fig. 7, if preferred, thecharacter of the joint being independent of the shape of the closureflaps.

The angles of the cuts between the flaps 82 and 33 in Fig. 1, and theflaps 32a. and 33a; in Fig. 7, may be described for convenience as thelimiting angles at which these cuts may be placed. It will be seen thatin one embodiment, the cuts are 30 to one side of a line perpendicularto the edge of the panels 22 and 23, while in the other embodiment thecuts are at 30 on the other side of such a perpendicular line. Whilethese two positions of the cuts are the limiting positions in a box ofthe parallelogram shape herein disclosed, yet the cuts may be placed atany desired angle between these two limiting positions, if it is notdesired to make the edge of one flap or the other coincide with the edgeof the box. For example, the cuts between these flaps may beperpendicular to the edges of the panels 22 and 23, as indicated in theembodiment shown in Figs. 13 to 18, inclusive, where the edges 50b and52b of the flaps 32b and 33b, respectively, are perpendicular to theedges of the panels 22b and 23b or midway between the two limiting orextreme positions illustrated in the two previous embodiments.

When the flaps are made of this shape, and when the container is closed,the edges 50b and 521) will not lie along any edges of the container,

but will extend obliquely in a general direction toward the center ofthe container, as plainly illustrated in Figs. 16 and 18.

This third embodiment shown in Figs. 13 to 18, inclusive, has the jointformed between the panels 25b and 26b, at one of the obtuse corners ofthe container, instead of being formed at one of the narrow panels atthe sharp or acute corners of the box. The joint may be either stitchedor taped, a taped joint being here shown for the purpose of illustrationand the tape being indicated at 40b. If an overlapped stitched orstapled joint is desired, a small narrow flap is added to the edge ofone or the other of the panels 25b to each other.

and 26b, to overlap with the other panel. The

joint may, of course, be formed at any desired corner or other preferredlocation. Except for this change in the location of the joint and thechange in the angle of the edges Illb and 82b of the flaps 32b and 33b,this third embodiment illustrated in Figs. 13 to 18 may be otherwiseidentical with the first embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, and theparts or this third embodiment are indicated by the same referencenumerals used for the corresponding parts or the first embodiment, withthe addition of the letter b" to each numeral.

It will now I be readily understood by those skilled in the art that anovel container has been provided in which substantially cylindricalobjects may be packed in the most compact manner possible. This compactmanner of packing the cylindrical objects requires less cubical spacefor a given number of objects to be packed, and results in a substantialsaving in sheet material over that which would be required for aconventional rectangular box to hold the same number 0! cylindricalobjects. The parallelogram-shaped container of the present invention,although of unusual appearance, is not at all awkward or dimcult tohandle. A box or case made according to the present invention may easilybe grasped at its extreme or acute corners and, because ofthe shape ofsuch corners, the human hand can grasp this box to lift or carry it evenmore conveniently than the conventional rectangular box.

When a large number of containers are stacked in a warehouse or in arailroad car, they may be placed in rows in such a manner that the sidepanels of any one box lie parallel to and tight against the side panelsof the adjacent boxes around it, with no waste space between the boxes.Thus the shape of the box does not interfere with compact stacking and,indeed, a given number of boxes of the present form, containing a givennumber, of tin cans, or. the like, can be stacked in less cubical spacethan would be required for the same number of boxes containing the samenumber of cans, if the boxes were of the conventional rectangular shape.

In the embodiments shown by way of example, the boxes are seen to be ofsuch size as to hold one dozen cylindrical objects in each layer, but

the boxes may obviously be made of different dimensions to hold more orless than a dozen objects in each layer, and to hold as manylayers oneon top of another as desired.

When the top and bottom closure flaps of the container are closed andsealed by suitable means,

the closure flaps give adequate strength and.

stiffness to the container, holding the side wall panels firmly in thedesired angular relationship The use of closure flaps integral with theside wall panels is preferred because of the stiffness thus obtained andthe ease of erection of the box. But many features of the present'invention may nevertheless be utilized if, for any reason, it ispreferred to make the top and bottom closures separate from the sidewall panels, such closures being either of one or of several pieces. a

While certain embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it is tobe understood that the inventive idea may be carried out in a number ofways. This application is therefore not to be-limited to the precisedetails described, but is intended to cover all variations and modifications thereof. falling within the spirit of the invention or the scopeof the appended claims.

'I claim:

l. A container for packing a plurality 01 rows of substantiallycylindrical objects with each object lying partially in the troughbetween two adjacent objects, said container comprising walls forming anenclosure of generally parallelogramshaped cross-section, said wallsincluding two opposite side walls arranged substantially parallelto eachother and two other opposite side walls arranged substantially parallelto each other and at approximately to the firstmentioned two parallelwalls, the perpendicular distance between said first two parallel wallsbeing materially diirerent from the perpendicular distance between saidother two parallel walls.

2. A container for packing a plurality of rows of substantiallycylindrical objects with each object'lying partially in the troughbetween two adjacent objects, said container comprising a pair of sidewalls of approximately equal size substantially parallel to each other,a second pair of side walls of approximately equal size substantiallyparallel to each other, each wall of the second pair being arranged atan internal angle of substantially 120 to one wall of the first pair,and top and bottom walls lying substantially in planes parallel to eachother and perpendicular to all of said side walls.

3. A container for packing a plurality of rows of substantiallycylindrical objects with each object lying partially in the troughbetween two adjacent objects, said container comprising two pairs ofmajor side walls, the two walls of each pair being substantiallyparallel to each other and each wall of one pair being arranged atsubstantially 120 to one wall of the other pair and at substantially 60to the other wall of the other pair, and relatively narrow minor sidewalls extending obliquely across the 60 corners of the major side walls.

4. A container for packing a plurality of rows of substantiallycylindrical objects with each object lying partially in the troughbetween two adjacent objects, said container comprising walls forming anenclosure of generally parallelogramshaped cross-section with the majorsides at an acute angle to each other at two opposite corners and at anobtuse angle to each other at two other opposite corners, and with theacute angular corners truncated.

5. A container comprising walls forming a body of generallyparallelogram-shaped cross-section with two sides arranged atapproximately 120 to each other, and closure flaps integral with certainof said walls, each closure flap covering less than the full area ofsaid parallelogramshaped cross-section.

6. A container comprising walls forming a body of generallyparallelogram-shaped crosssection with two sides arranged atapproximately 120 to each other, and closure flaps integral with certainof said walls, all of said closure flaps being of substantially the samewidth in a direction perpendicular to the edges of the walls to whichthey are respectively attached.

'7. A. container comprising walls forming a body of generallyparallelogram-shaped crosssection, certain of said walls being arrangedat acute angles to certain others of said walls, and closure flapsintegral with certain of said walls, all of said closure flaps being ofsubstantially the same width in a direction perpendicular to the edgesof the walls to which they are respectively attached, and each flapcovering less than the full area of said parallelogram-shapedcrosssection.

8. A container for packing a plurality of rows of substantiallycylindrical objects with each object lying partially in the troughbetween two adjacent objects, said container comprising four major wallsforming an enclosure of generally parallelogram-shaped cross-sectionwith acute angles of substantially 60 at two opposite corners and obtuseangles of substantially 120 at the other two opposite corners, minorwalls extending obliquely across the two acute angular corners totruncate said corners, and closure flaps formed integrally with each oi.said major walls. each closure flap covering less than the full area ofsaid parallelogram-shaped cross-section and all 01 said closure flapsbeing of substantially the same width in a direction perpendicular tothe edges of the walls to which said fiaps are respectively attached.

9. A container for packing a plurality of rows of substantiallycylindrical objects with a plurality oi such objects in each row andwith each object lying partially in the trough between two adjacentobjects and with the axes of said cylindrical objects all approximatelyparallel to each other, said container comprising a first pair of wallsspaced from and approximately parallel to each other and to the axes ofthe objects to be packed, a second pair of walls also spaced from andapproximately parallel to each other and to the axes of the objects tobe packed, the two walls of at least one of said pairs being ofapproximately equal size and shape, the two walls of the second pairbeing arranged at approximately 60 and 120 to the two walls of the firstpair, and a third pair of walls also spaced from and approximatelyparallel to each other and approximatelyperpendicular to the axes oi theobjects to be packed and to the first two pairs of walls, all or saidwalls being relatively stiff and being secured to each othersufliciently firmly so that said container may serve as a shipping caseform-,

ing substantially the only enclosure for the cylindrical objects packedtherein and protecting them against normal transportation shocks.

10. A container according to claim 9, in which said walls are made offiber board.

11. A container according to claim 9, in which all of said wallsconstitute parts of a single integral piece 01' fiber board.

12. A container according to claim 9, further including a fourth pair ofwalls spaced from and approximately parallel to each other and to theaxes of the objects to be packed,'the walls of the fourth pair beingminor walls extending across the acute angles between the walls of thefirst and second pairs to truncate said acute angles.

GERARD M. KINCADE. JR.

